The Weird Car Internet™ is a fickle place prone to being easily distracted by French cars and lifted Miatas, so it’s of significant note when all of the WCI gets excited about one particular person or car. Last week it was “The Midnight Wolf” that captured our collective attention, specifically with an image of a framed tale of a Challenger SRT8 whose “first Alpha didn’t appreciate” and that had to be rescued from “fading away.” It now proudly instructs onlookers to “Always Drive Faster Than The Devil Can Run.” We talked to the car’s “new Alpha” and the story–and paint job–is even better than you’d imagine.
Here’s the original tweet from our friend Syd:
there’s no way pic.twitter.com/HGUGDJEUDO
— -ˋˏ repent ˎˊ- (syd) (@deerfella) August 29, 2023
If you need to see what it says a little clearer:
The original post has over 2,300 likes, 196 replies, and 186,000 views on Twitter/X. The responses are about what you’d expect, with people assuming the car owner is a boomer, and stating that it is “the most mopar thing i’ve read in my life.” Someone on Reddit said “this makes me want to cry and not in a good way.”
Internally, our initial reaction was mixed. On the one hand, it can read as a little cringe, especially the bit about foreign cars. On the other hand, this is a car enthusiast who rescued a car they loved, takes care of it, and displays it for others. We’re pro-car here, so rather than jump on the bandwagon we decided to reach out to the owner and find out the true story behind “The Midnight Wolf” and, friends, it does not disappoint.
Yes, some of the expectations about the owner are in fact correct. Charles, the new Alpha, lives in Washington State and works as a trainer and mechanic in the aviation industry. We didn’t specifically ask Charles his age, but it’s safe to assume he’s somewhere along the Gen X/Boomer divide. He does, in fact, own a Hawaiian shirt with pictures of a Dodge Challenger proudly nestled amid the palm trees.
He also bought the car and modified it specifically to take to car shows and raise money for his community.
“I always wanted an SRT8 and after a chain reaction of fortunate instances I managed to get one,” Charles told The Autopian. “I wanted something I could build back to help serve others and do a little good in the world. When I first pulled the damaged car in the driveway my wife said it sounded like it was growling, hence the name Midnight Wolf. Funny thing is I didn’t know the paint was called Midnight Black Pearl. “
That makes perfect sense to us and, of course, mad respect for buying something that needed a little care. Of course, as a technician trained to work on jet engines, a Challenger SRT8 is probably not that much of a challenge.
“During Covid, the Wolf never missed out on cruises for birthdays, graduations, retirements, and yes, sadly, even funerals. I change the graphics every year to keep it fresh for the next set of shows and even road trip it to Tucson for a couple shows once a year.”
The Wolf is a daily driver with about 112,000 miles on the clock, so before a show Charles spends about six hours detailing her (it is a her) and attending to the paint, which… I’m going to let Charles explain the paint.
“My present graphics are of the Wolf escaping the chains of hell and the search for some kind of redemption, the rear windshield reflects the Wolf walking the thin line between heaven and hell,” Charles explained. “A funny note, the ones who appreciate her most are children and little old women, I don’t know why but they always seem to have the most interest in her.”
So, what are the mods mentioned in the car’s story?
The custom exhaust spoken of includes a mid-muffler delete, three-inch pipes, and Borla mufflers with the stock tips attached so “she doesn’t sound like every other Challenger with [a] modified exhaust.” Finally she has “custom lighting in the headlights, fog lights, grill, engine bay and active hood scoops.”
When we inquired about the signs we found out that there are not one, but two different signs that run at shows.
“The first reads ‘Daily Driver Warning Health Hazard… Climbing on or touching this vehicle can cause fat lips, severe nose bleeds or fractured limbs,’ but I always let the kids in to take pictures and blast the Wolf horn that imitates a wolf howl,” said Charles, adding a delightful detail to the story. “The second one is from the Midnight Wolf’s perspective…”
I’m glad we reached out to Charles because it’s always nice to get some context for what, at first, seems like an Internet joke. If I’m being entirely honest, this car isn’t exactly how I’d modify a car, but my idea for the ideal modified car is a C4 Corvette painted like a Japanese Highway Patrol car with all the words written in Italian in a sort William Gibson/Miyazaki tribute and I can barely explain that idea to myself, let alone other people.
When we say we’re “pro-car” here, what we mean is that we want to embrace a sort of automotive pluralism that highlights not what you drive but why you drive. Car culture isn’t as fragile or fleeting as many have suggested, but it’s true that there’s a real threat to it. By bashing other people for liking something different, or shearing ourselves off into smaller and smaller groups, we’re not advancing car culture. We’re diminishing it.
And, to the credit of the Weird Car Internet™ , some of the people who found it were able to appreciate the car un-ironically. Because when you talk to Charles you realize that the what may be a little extra, but the why is pretty much on point:
My story isn’t special, but I will say this, The Midnight Wolf is purpose built for serving my community, veterans, first responders, and children in need of help and we will roll to any show we can for that purpose.
Not all heroes wear capes, some wear Hawaiian shirts with pictures of their car on it.
All photos courtesy of Charles. David Tracy and Peter Vieira contributed to this story.
This article is very timely, I had a thought yesterday (wow I know right?) and this is the perfect place for it.
Does anyone else, when seeing a fellow enthusiasts car, especially when its not really that well done, or nice, look extra hard at them?
When I see someone who loves their car (it’s usually obvious) but I think most others wouldn’t really love it, I tend to stare at their cars hard as possible so the driver can tell, then give them some sort of thumbs up type sign.
I figure, hey, I might have just made their day because now they think *I* think their car is dope as hell too. Probably once a month or so this happens to me, just something to think about while you drive around out there.
The real cringy part to me is how he misspelled “respect” in that little manifesto.
What a piece of shit…. I can only imagine what a scumbag the owner must be
OK. Did you read this article? Did you skip your meds again?
What color is the sky in your world?
But yeah, this is a piece of shit.
Every word. And as I said above, this car is a piece of shit, and I’m sure the owner is a walking, talking cartoon of a man
I thought the Alpha thing was some of that Andrew Tate stuff but now I realize dude is just really into wolves. Not enough to find out the alpha stuff is bullshit with them too, but he’s a wolf fan. If he’s got the 3 wolf moon shirt on under the Hawaiian or, (even better) has had it as a graphic on his car, the aesthetic will be complete.
Although I’ve got to say Watusi Bull Crown Vic guy beats Wolf Charger guy for internet car weirdo of the week. And once again proves the amazing versatility of the Panther platform.
I’d take cars like this and owners like this over another rich jerk with some unattainable super car and some ‘earned’ wealth EVERY time.
Why not neither?
The only thing I like about this story is the passion, and that far outweighs what I don’t like about this thing. Kudos Charles, kudos.
The hood reminds me of that scene with The Nothing at the end of the Neverending Story.
This is more ‘Murica than a bald eagle with a Coors Light and an AR-15.
“Climbing on or touching this vehicle can cause fat lips, severe nose bleeds or fractured limbs”
Great vibes for what is supposedly a charity vehicle. I was onboard the Wolftrain until I read this.
I hate it and don’t understand why.
BUT
I am super stoked that dude is out there doing whatever weird rotating graphic nonsense makes him, and probably some other weirdos out there, happy.
People need to learn to appreciate what other people do REGARDLESS of if it is what they like.
So he “saved” the midnight wolf by putting gas in it, cleaning it, and installing questionable vinyl and lighting. Mad skills! And no “resect” to be given until you can spell.
I’m kinda confused by the “Risin” and “Risen”. Is an apostrophe missing? Is it present or past tense?
Well it could be a religious reference. The wolf would be more intimidating if he meant “ricin”.
Its not properly ricin unless that wolf is drawn doing a high speed wheelie burnout on a fully fared 80’s Japanese pocket rocket while wearing a Bruce Lee yellow jumpsuit and castor seeds as the exhaust.
Maybe he meant a “bad moon raisin?”
It is simultaneously rising and risen. It’s like a quantum-entangled vehicle of sorts.
Ah, good old boring trash talk…
All he needs to do now is modify the passenger side African Bull style and roll around with a pack of real wolves sitting shotgun.
I love the Midnight Wolf! May it find the redemption it seeks as it casts off the chains of Hell. What happens when it finds that redemption, I wonder? Will it get painted white and have like halos and cherubs and shit on it? That would be pretty dope too.
He changes the graphics every year, that’s pretty cool. Not my cup of tea with all the lights and stuff, but if it makes him happy and helps his community, that’s pretty cool of him.
I’ve never heard of this thing until now. It reminds me so much of the “Dragon Vette” from Indiana. I always wonder what happened to that car, but I can’t find anything recent on it. Does it still exist?
It does seem to have disappeared – IIRC, didn’t the guy put the letters on wrong once and spell it Dagron Vette? Seem to remember that.
It should be the Autopian mission to find this thing.
This is so much better than the cars you see at shows with names like Norma Jean, and the tray on the window with fake milkshakes (or those hide-and-seek dolls). Go on, car freak; write your own crazy narrative.
I avoid car shows for no particular reason. You just gave me a reason.
This is firmly in the “whatever makes him happy” category for me, but after watching Lindsey Ellis’s bonkers video documentary(?) about the Omegaverse, I just can’t take anyone talking about Alphas seriously. 😉
hell yeah, dudes rock
I did a “find on page” for the word “worgen” and came up zero. 🙁
I’m trying to work through some of my preconceived notions about certain cars and their owners…and if this brings this guy a bunch of joy, which clearly it does, then more power to him. Is it a bit cringe? Sure, but there’s also something very empowering about driving something that’s unapologetically ridiculous and not giving a flying fuck about what people think of you.
honestly, it’s wholesome as hell and I’m here for it
Just how loud and polluting is that modified exhaust?
…that sounds pretty tame, all things considered.
All things considered just based on those graphics alone “tame” wouldn’t have been my word of choice.
I know, it’s so hard. But worth the effort.
I kinda feel bad now about assuming this was someone in their 20s or 30s who is perpetually 13 and has a main character complex. I need to stop taking everything so seriously and assuming everyone else does too… The car mods may be in questionable taste, but it seems like the guy is just having fun building a silly car with a theme with the intention of raising money for the community at shows. Can’t really hate that, this car has an unexpectedly extremely wholesome story.
> assuming this was someone in their 20s or 30s who is perpetually 13 and has a main character complex.
When in actuality this is someone in their 50s or 60s who is perpetually 13 and has a main character complex.
He sounds like a riot. Good for him.
Cringe? Yes! As a David Tracy fan I am pledged never to disrespect cringe.
“Sure, but there’s also something very empowering about driving something that’s unapologetically ridiculous and not giving a flying fuck about what people think of you.”
The thing is Challenger people really DO give flying fucks. Lots of them. They crave attention both positive and negative ESPECIALLY the owners who modify the exhausts and put on attention grabbing graphics. That’s the whole point. They’re the Harley riders of the auto world.
The people who actually DON’T give any flying fucks? They drive beat to shit Pontiacs. No graphics other than what nature and circumstance added, bone stock exhausts because Pontiac owners really DON’T give a fuck. Pontiac is the official brand of IDGAF. Dodge lost that honorary years ago.
I spent an hour talking to the guy who just rebuilt a carb (HOLLEY DOUBLE PUMPER BABY). He owns his own shop, around my age (early-mid 40s) and while I never knew him we both grew up in the car scene in our area (Albanyish NY).
We spent like an hour talking about our respective journeys through the hobby, and how different kinds of cars had different subcultures and barriers to entry. Basically in our area the musclecar guys were, ok, boomers, but were generally welcoming. The JDM crew were sorta elitist and standoffish, the Euro crew were cheerful durtbags…but everyone to some extent made their car/scene part of their petsonality.
I thunk that led to me disregarding import cars for too long, and I missed out on some great car experiences that are now priced out of my reality.
TL:DR Your car is what you dig, not who you are, and as long as anyone’s having fun with the hobby and not a dick, more power to ’em. Irony sucks.
That’s pretty much how I felt when I got into Mopar’s when I went to the CNY Mopar fest in Liverpool, except it was more than just the ol’ V8 owners being welcoming.
I honestly never felt so welcomed into learning about anything else, as many people come-off EXTRTEMELY biased. It was kinda hard to even talk to the people around my age in the community (and honestly, even in college) because, well, you said it best:
Only good thing was I fell in love with cars as man-made, artistic machines, so I ended up wanting to learn more about every vehicle and every company, so while I’m not extremely knowledgeable in everything, I can strike up quite the conversations.
Same. Chryslers @ Carlisle 1999 hooked me, after the Mopar Mailing List got me started.
I think that tends to be a pattern no matter what cars the people you talk to are into, younger enthusiasts are a lot more likely to be argumentative fanboys of particular makes and models. Not sure why exactly that is… heck, I used to be super elitist about all the good cars being made before 1980, I was strictly a classic car guy. It didn’t matter at all what kind of classic car, whether it be American, Japanese, big or small, normal or weird as heck… If you asked me, I’d tell you only classic cars have character and personality, and everything “modern” (aka post-1980) is boring and soulless.
But when there’s not many car guys at your school to talk to, and the ones you do talk to are mostly into JDM, Euro stuff, trucks, and supercars, you get pretty annoyed when they call Citroens ugly, insist you should manual-swap your ’66 Thunderbird because automatics are lame, and constantly wax poetic about the injustice of being unable to import a GTR, you get pretty annoyed – but then again, I never talked about what cars they liked.
I think that that, coupled with joining Opposite-lock and seeing everyone posting about project cars I knew nothing about but reading them anyway because community, showed me that there are a lot of different ways to appreciate cars and instead of dismissing them, I should ask about them and learn why people like what they like. Since then, most of the stuff I used to arbitrarily hate has become an acquired taste and I get just as excited as anybody to see a GTR driving by, and I’m seriously considering buying a Miata.
I think it’s a major milestone in becoming a more mature enthusiast to let go of biases and see why different enthusiasts like different things, be willing to try different things, and accept that there’s no such thing as “the proper way” to enjoy cars. Except stance culture, stance is trash and needs to die :p
Gotta be honest, these days I’d find someone being incredibly aggressively partisan about a _car brand_ to be a delightful and almost touchingly innocent diversion from the normal types of things people shout over.
IME, the snobbiest guys are the ones who know the least and can’t be told a damn thing. Probably also the shittiest drivers, but that’s more a guess.
The MG Club in my area is 95 percent retirees, and always very welcoming when a “young” mid 40’s guy like me show up. My vintage camping group is the same. The Airstream club is a good mix of ages and also very welcoming. Clubs need younger members to keep the clubs and hobby alive.
GOBBLESS HOSS KEEP ON HOWLIN WATCH OUT FER THEM WOLF CLIBBINS
HE GONNA PICK UP ALL THE DEBS AND BARBS WIT THAT
Where can I get one of these?
…do they make a version with VW Type 4s?!??
You mean crashed into the palm trees.
I have one with a Mustang pictured. I think my wife found it on The Internet thingy.
I’m not trying to have a rude attitude or anything, but how is a borderline bone stock Challenger with a graphics package suppose to raise money for charity? If it wasn’t for I’m tired of respecting all builds group, no one outside of Washington would ever know this thing exists.
Like, dude you can just own the most well detailed Challenger on Earth if you want to. You don’t need an altruistic purpose. Playing my vet card, it just feels like using very real causes to justify commodification. I just don’t see how it benefits any of the parties that it supposedly exist for.
I think the fact that he shows up is “support”. It’s no different than when the local Harley group “rides” to support the police or military. I mean, just riding around then going to a bar isn’t really support much, is it?
I would guess this is it. It’s the same shit with Patriot Prayer and whatnot. Which I don’t speak for everyone in the community, but I’ve never seen one of those groups and thought “Thank you for honoring me.”
Nothing against this guy, he, like the rest of us don’t exist in vacuum. This whole post-911 “Support the Troops” and now every other social cause by merely existing and not questioning the actions of the larger body that organizes the troops is absurdism. Stop hiding behind the troops because you want to hang with your friends and make noise without being socially viewed as general riff raff.
Probably shows up to a charity, collects some money then deducts all the costs from his showing the car as an expense- note I am not an IRS expert
Which oddly enough, if you want to support the troops: Pay your goddamn taxes and stop bringing it up. As much as I like reflecting on my time in an armed conflict at 20, I’ve also done other stuff since then dammit. If your feeling really adventurous contact your local rep and tell them to properly fund the VA.
There’s a guy near me whose entire life seems to have stopped in the early 1970s. He flies two Vietnam vet flags on his house, he has vietnam themed vanity plates, his cars are covered in Vietnam combatant stickers etc.
I can’t imagine the trauma he went through then (assuming he’s not just a cosplayer), and I imagine he hasn’t had or availed himself of the right medical treatments. It’s heartbreaking how his life is basically a 2-3 year time capsule and he seems to feel like he hasn’t done anything else worth talking about in 50 years, or 70% of his life.
OR – and here me out now – what if I got an HHR panel van, did it up in a full color 9/11/War on Terror themed vinyl wrap, and repeatedly badgered the leadership of the local VFW until they agreed to let it into the parade with them and then refused to leave their hall afterward until they printed me out a participation certificate? My plan might work just as well as yours.
(I actually met someone at a show once who had done pretty much exactly this, except with an S-10)
I mean literally everyone got the GWOT ribbon for like 12 years or something like that. I know a person who got one and she was a dental hygienist on base in Germany. There is nothing more post-911 military than meaningless participation trophies in lieu of providing meaningful accommodation or quality of life improve to the rank and file. I don’t see how the VFW should be any different. What if we forget? How will I use the tragic death of thousands to personally enrich myself!
Yeah, I was also hoping for more details on the charity fundraising aspect.
Is he offering rides for a fee and donating the proceeds? Just how many people are lining up to pay for a ride in this?
Is he referring to certain car shows whose registration fees benefit a nonprofit organization? If so, that’s peanuts.
If you want to do up your car with a bunch of questionable modifications because that’s what you like, fine. Knock yourself out. But don’t pretend there’s some higher altruistic purpose to it.
The only problem I have with it is the red lights on the front. No car should ever have forward-facing red lights; it’s a common-sense safety thing, not a legal thing (though it is also illegal). The only line I draw with car modifications is when they have the potential to endanger others, and red lights coming at you at night rather than moving away from you is an accident waiting to happen.
Otherwise, knock yourself out. It’s not my style, but hey man, you do you.
At least on screen, it looks like the effect you get when you put that translucent red repair tape over broken taillights.
I bet the lights can be switched off. There’s a lowrider club near me and a lot of those guys have custom lighting in often very illegal and distracting colors. The custom lights come on when they arrive at a show and are switched off on departure. Maaaaybe they’ll keep the underglow on.
I would hope so, but a disturbing number of Jeeps I see on the road around here say otherwise.
it’s jeeps and anything mopar around me.
Oh yeah, the local Infidel Jeepers club turns out strong at car shows and that is super common.
David! Come get your people!!
98% of red headlights are on Jeeps here in NYC, with the occasional Charger thrown in for good measure. Driving either also makes you immune to NYPD, as long as you have the fascist flag sticker on (i.e., the thin blue line version of the US flag).